MYAN releases latest research report “Counting us in: MYAN report on the settlement experiences of LGBTQI+ refugee & asylum seeker young adults.”
With generous support from the Sidney Myer Fund and Pride Foundation Australia, MYAN recently undertook national research to capture the settlement experiences of young LGBTQI+ asylum seekers and refugees living in Australia.
The report on our findings is intended to provide insights into how LGBTQI+ refugee and asylum seeker young adults (18-30) arriving in Australia are faring in their settlement journey, including good practice and gaps in support.
It provides a summary of key findings from a national sector consultation and individual interviews with LGBTQI+ refugee and asylum seeker young adults and service providers.
The report is further informed by available literature on LGBTQI+ young adults settling in Australia and identifies several measures for MYAN, the federal government and the youth, LGBTQI+ and settlement sectors to consider in improving responses that address the complex needs of LGBTQI+ refugee and asylum seeker young adults, to improve their overall wellbeing and settlement experiences.
MYAN Chair, Carmel Guerra OAM: “As the Australian peak body for migrant and refugee youth, an important part of our work involves capturing the diverse settlement experiences of young people arriving in Australia, and making recommendations for service improvements and more responsive program design”.
“We hope this report is useful for fellow researchers, policy makers (including the Department of Home Affairs) and LGBTQI+ and youth organisations across Australia, and we are committed to working alongside young people and our colleagues in these spaces to continue this important work,” adds Rana Ebrahimi, MYAN’s National Manager.
Why a focus on young people?
Young people have specific needs and strengths in the settlement context, including challenges that are distinct from the experience of adults and children, and without a targeted response across the settlement services continuum, they risk long-term social, economic, and civic marginalisation.
The intersection of being young, LGBTQI+, and from a refugee/asylum seeker background means that their experiences and needs differ from those of both their non-migrant LGBTQI+ peers and the general youth migrant cohort. They are likely to face additional risks to safety; experience discrimination and/or abuse based on their sexuality and/or gender identity; may lack crucial social support from family members and/or communities of the same ethnic background; and face additional barriers to accessing settlement, health and social services, which heighten the risks faced by this group of young people.
“The report emphasises the responsibility we have as a sector to understand the particular needs of young LGBTQI+ refugees and asylum seekers, including their settlement needs, and the systemic barriers they face when accessing the supports they need,” adds Ms. Ebrahimi.
Criminalisation, persecution and discrimination against LGBTQI+ people around the world continues to drive forced displacement of people in search of a safe environment in which they can live authentically and fully exercise their rights. Although LGBTQI+ young people have the same rights and basic needs as other refugees and asylum seekers, they face distinct protection risks because of their LGBTQI+ identity.
“LGBTQI+ refugees and asylum seekers are not free from stigma, discrimination, exclusion and violence just because they have arrived in Australia,” says Shannon White, MYAN’s National Policy and Advocacy Lead. “There is an urgent need for the settlement, mainstream youth and LGBTQI+ sectors to work more collectively, with better coordination to properly understand and respond to key protection, pre-arrival and settlement issues impacting young LGBTQI+ refugees and asylum seekers to improve their settlement experiences and their social, physical and emotional wellbeing overall.”
Next steps
MYAN looks forward to advancing the recommendations included in this report. We are committed to continuing our work in this space and working with young people and our colleagues in the sector to build on the findings of this report including:
Establishing a youth LGBTQI+ reference group made up of young people with lived experience, including members of MYAN's youth networks to provide advice to decision-makers, and co-lead future research activities.
Partnering with young people and organisations working directly with LGBTQI+ people from refugee and asylum backgrounds to collaborate in joint initiatives and research projects aimed at supporting this demographic, and assisting with providing a ‘youth voice;’ and to determine how our current consultation methods can be changed – and what new methods should be introduced – to ensure engagement is safer and more accessible.
Reviewing the National Youth Settlement Framework (NYSF) to embed LGBTQI+ inclusive practices.
For more information about the report or if you are interested in being involved in the next phases of the research, please contact the MYAN team at myanprojects@myan.org.au
If you need support, you can call QLife on 1800 184 527, the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
